The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1887-11-23

mother eat of town charity 1ne Cost
of Zone of 'Melia's darter's dresses
would keep the old folks nigh year
with their simple wants. Pears to me
I'can't stan it. =
| "But how can we help it, Johnp'
and the hand which held the needle
| was poised over the worn buttonhole,
as Sarah meditated with knitted brows
the perplexing question, more perplex-
ing indeed than that Of new trousers.
| mamma" it was child's voice;
that of Ruth, the thoughtful little bur-
den bearer for the family, to whom her
mother turned for advice and consola-
ton in her many perplexities as natur-
| ally as to a grown person. IF each
one of grandma's children, and grand
children, could give dollar year,
wouldn't it be almost enough TO keep
| them?n
"Why yes, child, ! do believe it
| would" replied the mother, IF each
one would do their share, there would
be no need of this disgrace, but the
| trouble seems to be that each waits for
the other to do something, and they
are all getting callous together, by the
| means
| Don't you believe mamma we could
coax them to have birthday box in
! each one of their families, and every
time there is birthday, drop in dol
lar for grandma and grandpa2" con-
tinued Ruth, her dear thoughtful little
| fana lifted 20 fha mot nrs
land perhaps mamma, if you were to
go around to them all, and coax lit
tie. you could get them to make them
Thanksgiving donation, like we do
the minister's folks sometimes? Il
don't know, child, I'm sure" re-
piled the mother, thoughtfully, sit
seems as if natural affection an pride
ought to be enough, without any coax
in, but then"
| "Out of the mouth O. babes an
sucklin's wife," said the husband,
Significantly. "Its worth tryin'."
but how could we do our share, :"
said Sarah, still perplexedl "Our fam
lily is the largest, and we are the poor
est of them all; yet ] couldn't ask
them to do what couldn't do myself !"
1--WE older children could earn our
money some way" replied Ruth, COM
ing to the rescue, with her wise little
brain ON the alert for remedy. Il
can knit, and I'm sure Mrs. Lane
would hire me to knit the winter nit
tens for her children, and Denny and
Mark can pick up potatoes for MIR.
Slocum, especially if he knew what we
were working for"
"If we trust in the Lord I'm sure
He'll open the way, wife" said John,
with gratified look at his eager little
daughter; he loved to see his children
unselfish and self-sacrfcing. He
doesn't open doors for us until We
come to them. F"
| wish it could be recorded that Mrs.
Hammond's project was welcomed
with such enthusiasm as it deserved by
the other members of the family.
| Julia was calling upon Amelia when
Mrs. Hammond arrived at the comfort
able home of. the elder sister
Both ladies were dressed in heavy
silks, and had elegant gold watches
peeping out from elaborate watch
| pockets.
Marian, the daughter of Amelia, or
! Mrs, Crary, was also present; she had
been several years married to a pros
porous lawyer. and one of her shop
ping excursions would have kept her
| grandparents in comfort many months
and ON this occasion she wore articles
of value which represented at least a
! yeartA living for them.
..rm sure don't see how can do
anv shin q" said Mrs. Crazy, tossing
her head. when Mrs. Hammond had
Opened her subject. ''Our trip to Cal
ifornia was so expensive that l haven
asked Pryor for dollar since he came
back; besides it's Harrison's place to
support thern, since they were so fool
ish as to give him the farm" She pos
sibly forget to state that it was not
necessary tosask Mr.. Crazy for dol
| lar, as he kept her pocket-book well
supplied voluntarily
.'Surely the mistakes of feeble old
age ought not to be visited on them so
severely as this replied Mrs HAM
mond- Father was getting too old to
work the farm satisfa ctorily. though
of course that doesn't relieve Harrison
of his promise; but it does seem a burn
ing shame that the parents that have
[ brought us up so tenderly should be ON
the town for support. p"
| "Well, it does gall me terribly, " said
Mrs. Loomis, ''to think where they
have brought themselves. Father al
ways would give, give. to- the church.
and was always helping every bodYthat
was a little poorer than he, and then
to finish up by giving the farm to Har-
rison. It's no wonder he's ON the
| town"
There's no danger of your getting
there for any such reason thought
Mrs Hammond. but she kept her lips
wisely and firmly closed.
II don't see how | can help il, con-
tiuued Mrs. Loomis, ''it does cost so
much to live; the girls are just coming
into society, and have TO be dressed
| extensively.
Cora was scolding this morning, be-
cause she has TO use the old piano,
when the girls in her set are having
| "a 4 n TT !